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Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 95-0235-2524, 1995 Aug; :1-16

In response to a request for technical assistance from the Federal Occupational Health regional headquarters, an investigation was begun into possible occupational exposure to electric and magnetic fields at the United States Custom Service (SIC-9311) (USCS), Atlanta, Georgia. Workers at the facility had expressed concern about exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields emanating from an electrical panel. Inside the facility, the electric field levels ranged from 1.9 to 9 volts/meter (V/m); magnetic field levels ranged from 0.1 to 6 milligauss (mG). Outside the facility the range was 5 to 100V/m for electric fields and 0.7 to 6mG for magnetic fields. In one of the offices, magnetic fields of 25 to 220mG were monitored coming from an electric panel. All the measurements taken were significantly lower than the allowable levels. The authors conclude that the ELF fields were generally low. The magnetic field level was higher near an electrical panel than in other areas of the same room. Exposure potential would be linked to the amount of time spent by the worker in the proximity of this particular electrical panel. The authors also note that other sources of ELF were present in the workplace environment, including many electrical devices such as clocks, electric lamps, electrical office equipment, radios, and coffee pots. According to the authors, two best methods to limit the exposure to magnetic fields are to limit the worker's time in close proximity to the field source and to increase the distance between the source and the worker.